Dentists Stress the Importance of Good Dental Hygiene for Children

Approximately 78% of people in the U.S. have a cavity by the age of 17, which is exactly why dentists around the world are stressing the importance of teaching good dental hygiene habits to children.

The concerns of dentists everywhere have grown so strong that the British Society of Paediatric Dentistry (BSPD) has even released a guide to help parents foster good dental hygiene habits in their children.

The guide covers all areas of dental health from birth to age 16, and aims to dispel some of the myths surrounding pediatric dentistry.

One of the most damaging myths out there is the idea that baby teeth don’t matter or need as much care because they’re going to fall out anyway. In reality, tooth decay is a serious issue, no matter the age or kind of tooth.

“Your child’s baby teeth — also known as milk teeth — do matter and have an important role to play. They hold the space for second teeth to come through into but because the enamel is thin, they are highly susceptible,” Claire Stevens, media spokesperson for BSPD said.

Dentists around the world are speaking out about the issues surrounding pediatric dental hygiene, and stressing its importance to parents.

Dr. Robert Delarosa, president of the American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry, is particularly vocal in this cause.

He says that parents should bring their child in for their first dental visit before their first birthday even happens. He explained that the first visit is used as an opportunity to “educate families, establish a comprehensive ongoing relationship between dentist and patient, and examine a child’s mouth for any early tooth decay.”

Taking a child to the dentist at a young age can also alert parents to the dangers of prolonged bottle-feeding, as well as the effects of snacking and good dental hygiene habits on a baby’s teeth.

Tooth decay is becoming increasingly common in children under the age of four, by which approximately 30% to 40% of children experience dental disease.

Like Delarosa, Stevens is encouraging parents to pay attention and be active in their child’s dental care from a young age.

“We need to stop the downward spiral and support parents to access accurate and easy to understand information. The kindest things a parent can do is pay attention to their child’s teeth from an early age,” she said. “Our new guide explains how.”